Resonator for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A resonator for a vehicle includes a first part and a second part joined to each other, to form a tank-like structure. A neck part is projectedly formed on the first and second parts to communicate the inside and outside of the resonator with each other. A rubber seal member is fitted around the neck part, and a neck part cap is fitted into the neck part to be removably coupled to the neck part. Noise of diverse frequency bands generated in various kinds of vehicles can be effectively reduced due to the presence of the neck part cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application 10-2004-0063871 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 13, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a resonator for a vehicle, and, more particularly, to a resonator for a vehicle which can effectively reduce noise of diverse frequency bands generated in various kinds of vehicles without the need for changing the size of the resonator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As generally known in the art, resonators are installed in intake and exhaust systems to serve as devices for reducing sound of specific frequency bands which flow through intake and exhaust passages, on the basis of a principle of resonation.

However, the conventional resonators suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, since a reasonator cannot be commonly used in all types of vehicles, if the type of a vehicle is changed, it is necessary to develop an appropriate resonator, as a result of which a manufacturing cost inevitably increases. That is to say, in the conventional resonator, if the type of a vehicle is changed, the size and the shape of the resonator should be altered in conformity with the layout inside the vehicle. Also, if the displacement of an engine is changed, since the frequency band of noise generated in the engine varies, it is necessary to develop an appropriate resonator capable of efficiently reducing a noise level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a resonator for a vehicle which can be applied to all kinds of vehicles without the need of changing the size and the shape of the resonator and can effectively reduce noise of diverse frequency bands generated in various kinds of vehicles, thereby contributing to the decrease of manufacturing costs.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a first part and a second part injection-molded and joined integrally to each other. A neck part is formed on the first and second parts to communicate the inside and outside of the resonator with each other. A rubber seal member is fitted around the neck part and a neck part cap is fitted into the neck part to be removably coupled to the neck part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a resonator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the resonator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description of the same or similar components will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a resonator 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first body part 51, a second part 53, a neck part 55, a rubber seal member 57 and a neck part cap 59. The two body parts join together to form a tank-like structure having an inside and outside. The first part 51 and the second part 53 are formed by injection molding and are joined integrally to each other by a conventional heat-fusion method. The neck part 55 is a hollow cylindrical protrusion which is formed integrally with the first and second parts 51 and 53 when the first and second parts 51 and 53 are injection-molded. The neck part 55 defines a passage for communicating the inside and outside of the resonator 50 with each other.

The rubber seal member 57 is fitted around the outer surface of the neck part 55. The rubber seal member 57 functions to ensure airtightness between the neck part 55 and the air duct 20 when the neck part 55 is coupled to the air duct 20 to be installed thereon. As shown in FIG. 2, the neck part cap 59 is fitted into the neck part 55 in a manner such that the neck part cap 59 can be removed from the neck part 55 as occasion demands. The neck part cap 59 includes a cylindrical portion 591 which is fitted into the neck part 55, and a flange portion 593 which extends radially outwards from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 591 and has a diameter greater than the neck part 55.

At the lower end of the cylindrical portion 591 of the neck part cap 59, at least one elastic lip portion 591 a, which has a predetermined width, is formed by partially cutting the cylindrical portion 591 in such a way as to extend upwards from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 591. An engagement groove 591 b is defined on the outer surface of the elastic lip portion 591 a which faces the inner surface of the neck part 55. An engagement projection 55 a which can be engaged into the engagement groove 591 b of the neck part cap 59 is formed on the inner surface of the neck part 55.

Generally, the noise damping frequency band of a resonator is determined by several factors including the volume of the resonator, and the length and the sectional area of a neck part. In this regard, in the resonator 50 according to the present invention, by changing the shape of the neck part cap 59 which is fitted into the neck part 55, the noise damping frequency band of the resonator can be adjusted without the need for changing the shapes of other parts of the resonator 50. Consequently, the resonator 50 according to the present invention can be used to effectively reduce noise of diverse frequency bands by changing the shape of the neck part cap 59.

It is preferred that the sizes and the shapes of the first part 51 and the second part 53 be determined in consideration of layouts of 4 plurality of vehicles such that minimum sizes and shapes can be adopted. Also, the diameter and the protruding length of the neck part 55 are determined in consideration of layouts of a plurality of vehicles so as to obtain reference dimensions.

In the case of a vehicle which generates noise of a high frequency band, for example, a neck part cap 59 with a large diameter and a long length is fitted into the neck part 55 in order to effectively reduce noise. On the contrary, in the case of a vehicle which generates noise of a low frequency band, a neck part cap 59 with a small diameter and a short length can be fitted into the neck part 55 in order to sufficiently reduce noise.

As a consequence, in the resonator 50 according to embodiments of the present invention, due to the fact that noise of diverse frequency bands generated in various kinds of vehicles, can be effectively reduced through the use of the neck part cap 59. Further, since the resonator 50 according to the present invention can be commonly used in all kinds of vehicles, marketability of the resonator 50 can be remarkably increased.

As apparent from the above description, the resonator for a vehicle according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since noise of diverse frequency bands generated in various kinds of vehicles can be effectively reduced due to the presence of a neck part cap, a manufacturing cost can be decreased. Further, because the resonator can be commonly used in all kinds of vehicles, marketability of the resonator can be significantly increased.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A resonator for a vehicle, comprising: a first part and a second part joined integrally to each other to define an internal void; a neck part projectedly formed on the first and second parts to communicate the internal void and outside of the resonator with each other, a rubber seal member fitted around the neck part; and a neck part cap fitted into the neck part to be removably coupled to the neck part.
 2. The resonator according to claim 1, wherein the neck part cap comprises: a cylindrical portion which is fitted into the neck part and on an outer surface of which at least one engagement groove is defined; and a flange portion which extends radially outwards from an upper end of the cylindrical portion to have a diameter greater than the neck part.
 3. The resonator according to claim 2, wherein at least one elastic lip portion which extends upwards from a lower end of the cylindrical portion and has a predetermined width is formed by partially cutting the cylindrical portion of the neck part cap, and the engagement groove is defined on an outer surface of the elastic lip portion which faces an inner surface of the neck part.
 4. The resonator according to claim 1, wherein at least one engagement projection which can be engaged into the engagement groove of the neck part cap is formed on the inner surface of the neck part.
 5. A resonator for a vehicle, comprising: a tank-like structure; a neck part formed on the tank-like structure and defining an opening communicating with an interior of said tank-like structure; a rubber seal member configured and dimensional to be fitted around the neck part; and a neck part cap configured and dimensioned to be removably coupled to the neck part and shaped to dampen a specific frequency band. 